Hello = everyone:
Each month I will be = responding to a question; chosen from a pool of some of the most = commonly asked ones that I have been asked over the years and continue = to be asked.
This month, I’d like to = answer the following question:=A0
Making your dinner table more = accessible
By Donna J. = Jodhan
Before you = say no or turn thumbs down on these suggestions; consider these = thoughts.
You can definitely increase = your revenue and reduce both your internal and external costs and here’s = how.
Take it from me!=A0 I have been an accessibility = awareness=A0 consultant and advisor since 1998 and I continue to help = companies to increase their revenues, reduce their costs, and reach = hidden consumer markets!
At this time = of the year, we need to ensure that everyone is kept happy at the dinner = table so that they can enjoy dining together.
The thing to = keep in mind when making your dinner table more accessible is = this!
A dinner table can refer to = instances such as dinner tables in the home, dinner tables at a = restaurant, and dinner tables wherever meals are shared by families and = friends.
So here are some tips to = make your dinner tables more accessible to everyone.
You need to = ensure that most dishes on your dinner table can be easily reached by = all diners.=A0
This could be = accomplished by avoiding clutter or by only having the minimal number of = dishes at each stage of the meal.
A = suggestion would be to have your dishes split into stages as = follows:
Group dishes by category = such as appetizers, entr=E9s, and desserts.
Serve soups = and salads in bowls and/or dishes that are easy to handle and those that = help to avoid spills.
Do the same for = dessert.
For entr=E9s, avoid serving meals in plates or bowls = that are too large.=A0
Do the same = for desserts.=A0
Ensure that = there is enough space on your dinner table to accommodate each guest.=A0 =
That is, that each person has enough = elbow room to sit comfortably and to maneuver their = dishes.
Ensure that cutlery is placed so that your guests can = easily find them without too much difficulty.
That is, that you don’t have too many cutlery pieces = on your table at any given time.
A = good suggestion would be to only have cutlery pieces for each stage as = dinner progresses.
Remember = now; access to your dinner table applies when your guests are being = served as well aswhen they are serving themselves at the = table.
Finally, be sure to have enough room for all = guests.=A0
Chairs should not be = crammed around your dinner table.
This is especially so for those who are in = wheelchairs, those with walkers, and those who are vision = impaired.